Keep Budget Ax Away From Public Safety

February 16, 2002|By Michael S. Juda Simsbury The writer is a Hartford firefighter.

``Hartford's First Step: Smarter Spending'' [editorial, Feb. 10] cited public safety analyst Carroll Buracker's already outdated report that said the Hartford Fire Department uses ``14 more engines and ladder trucks than it needs.'' Where that comes from is anyone's guess, because the city only has 17 companies (11 engines, five ladders and one rescue). Are we to believe we need only three companies to cover the city?

The Courant recommends closing two engine companies and one ladder company. Is The Courant counting the few spare apparatus on hand for use during repairs along with chiefs' vehicles, trucks used to maintain traffic lights and alarm systems, and apparatus maintenance vehicles?

Buracker issued his report a year before the fire department took over emergency medical response. Since May 2001, calls for service have tripled, with fire companies responding more often than ever before and traveling far beyond what used to be normal response areas. This means less apparatus available for calls and added wear and tear on vehicles. More frequent breakdowns and the need for maintenance require spare apparatus.

The Courant's observation that staffing apparatus with four personnel is ``featherbedding'' belies an ignorance of current industry standards and fire ground operations, and a gross disregard for firefighter safety and the ability to effect timely rescues.

``City Streak: 2 Years Without Fire-Related Fatality'' [Connecticut, Jan. 10] cited the low number of fire-related deaths in Hartford. One of the primary factors pointed out was staffing. The more companies are spread out and the fewer people manning apparatus, the higher the risk of lives lost and property destroyed.

After taking the fire and police departments to task, The Courant mentions private trash collection, parking fines and event fees. Emergency services cannot be lumped into the same category as general services, most of which can be planned for, postponed and even canceled, if need be, without fear of someone losing his life. Whose grandmother should wait lying on a wet sidewalk with a broken hip because the nearest fire unit is coming from across town? How long should people trapped above a fire hang on until apparatus arrives? And when it does, there aren't enough personnel on board to properly manage the ladders needed for an effective rescue because the ``featherbedding'' of four personnel per company has been eliminated.

It has been said that firefighters and police officers are not necessarily paid for what they do. They are paid for what they are expected to do. We can continue to have timely responses to fires, rescues and emergency medical incidents or we can cut the fire department back to dangerously low numbers. When someone calls 911, they'll have to wait their turn.